Good Riddance
I normally hate New Years Eve. Like Halloween, it’s one of those holidays I just don’t get. But this year, as if December 31 at midnight was some magical point in time, I couldn’t wait for the change.
It is without exaggeration that I can say 2004 was the absolute worst year of my life. True, there were moments where good things happened (meeting some great new friends, buying the nicest condominium I ever could have imagined), but those highs were outweighed by terrible lows (subsequently selling the nicest condominium I’ve ever could have imagined, my niece’s illness progressing more rapidly than anticipated, knowing three people in my life being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, my Mom and Dad both have health scares and an overly stressful academic semester).
Yet most of all, the worst thing over this past year was the gradual disintegration and ultimate break up of the relationship Matt and I shared for the past decade. It’s bad enough that we broke up, but we worked long and hard for most of the year trying to make it work out. And through all of that work and therapy, we had to hear and reflect on things that were incredibly unpleasant. In essence, it felt like it just dragged the misery out over 12 months. There is a silver lining in that we have agreed to be friends and, despite some initially awkward moments, we’ve stayed in touch (in fact, we just went to the movies together on Tuesday).
I’m not naive enough to think that life will improve simply because the calendar year switched from 2004 to 2005. But I can’t imagine that it could get much worse. So here’s to a happy, healthy and full 2005 for EVERYBODY!
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Happy new year, Karl! I hope 2005 is a better year for you than 2004.
Jeez, Not even a mention of your trip out to the burbs? Sniff………..
I’m crushed……..
Nice dinner, movies, dessert………
Oh the horror to be forgotten………..
Ok I don’t do the tragic drama queen thing so well………
2005 will be better if you make it so………
D
Thanks Karl, and same to you! Good stuff are awaiting…
Hey, David – I know! I actually drafted this blog entry discussing our New Years activities…but then when I proof-read things it didn’t seem to go with the tone of the rest of the entry and I cut it.
But I did reference “meeting some great new friends”…does that make up for it?
Oh Snarl. I’m sorry it was such a crap year. I remember in 1995, on New Year’s Day, our toilet exploded (thank GOD all we flushed was a scary ass spider) and I thought, hm, this cannot be a good omen. Sure as shit, that was the year that it all unraveled. I suppose you could make the argument that it was also the year that culminated in my long-awaited marriage, but 12 months was a long time to wait for something good to happen. Dead father, exploding toilets… sheesh.
So, I’m with you, virtually toasting what has bloody GOT to be a better year. Bring it on.